The Houston Dynamo came from behind to earn a 1-1 road draw with the Philadelphia Union Saturday night at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. Dynamo midfielder Geoff Cameron made the decisive play in the 85th minute, creating space and firing a low, right-footed shot in off the bottom of the right post. It was the seventh time this season the Dynamo came from behind to win or tie a match after allowing the first goal (1-6-6).
GAME NIGHT:
DYNAMO 1, PHILADELPHIA 1
Houston returns to action next Sunday, August 14, hosting the Portland Timbers at Robertson Stadium in the Dynamo’s first of three games in seven days.
In Saturday’s game, Houston dominated the first half and the match, with more than 60 percent of the possession and twice as many shots (16-8) as Philadelphia. But the Union went on top in the 15th minute when 19-year-old forward Jack McInerney picked off a Houston pass, played a give-and-go with Sebastien Le Toux, and converted a sliding right-footed shot for his first goal of the season.
As in the teams’ first meeting, which Philadelphia won 1-0 on March 19, the Union sat back and defended their lead for the rest of the match. Houston made Philadelphia pay in the 85th minute when midfielder Geoff Cameron settled a loose ball 25 yards from goal, cut onto his right foot, and ripped a shot that went in off the right post. The goal was Cameron’s fourth of the year and the 10th of his MLS career.
Cameron’s goal was the ninth goal the Dynamo have scored in the final 15 minutes of a game, second-most in Major League Soccer behind Seattle (13). The goal was only the ninth goal scored against Philadelphia at PPL Park all season and just the third allowed by the Union in the final 15 minutes of a match.
Houston is now 2-1-4 in its last seven games and trails third-place New York and Kansas City by two points in the Eastern Conference. The Dynamo are now unbeaten in the last nine matches captain Brian Ching has started (3-0-6), dating back to September 2010.
Dynamo forward Carlo Costly, just signed by the club on Thursday, came on in the 61st minute to make his Dynamo and Major League Soccer debut.
Several Dynamo players reached MLS career appearance milestones tonight: Brad Davis (245), Corey Ashe (120), and Geoff Cameron (90).
The Dynamo played without forwards Will Bruin (knee surgery) and Calen Carr (concussion) and midfielder Danny Cruz (quad).
